Forgiven

[death_glare]

[ No one questioned anything when William suddenly left his office that morning. "I've been called to a meeting" was all the information he gave the rest of Dispatch. To them, it wasn't surprising, seeing as he was the head of the department. For William, however, the summoning came with zero notice. As he made his way to the upper managements' offices, all he could wonder was what issue his subordinates caused that he'd have to clean up after, this time.

It wasn't until lunch break that William returned to Dispatch. The others expected they'd get reprimanded for something, but William remained quiet, his face expressionless as he closed the door to his office. ]

Comments

[death_glare]

Ah yes, how could I have forgotten that headache?

[ He helps, lifting his arm to allow her to clean it. ]

Considering how that ended, I'm surprised you are so willing to accept the caring side I've been showing lately.

[untodeath]

[ Though she chuckles, Grell doesn't seem all that amused. ]

Yes, well.

[ She dips his arm, before trading it off for his other. ]

It wasn't just that. She'd decided to give up everything, in that moment.

[death_glare]

[ He can sense the tension in her voice. ]

If you'd rather not discuss it, we can drop the topic.

[untodeath]

[ Grell pauses, fingers lacing into his, as she nuzzles her cheek against his neck. ]

You can ask. All considered, you deserve to know.

[ And for a moment, she just rests there. ]

I'm not-- very good at this sort of thing, is all.

[death_glare]

Then ask me something, instead. I simply feel we should know more about one another. Considering we've managed to avoid that until now.

[untodeath]

[ Well, that manages to make her smile. Perhaps he can feel it. ]

Mm. What about you, then?

[ She finishes with his hand, then returning to his torso, working along his sides. ]

[death_glare]

No one. Though, I feel if there was, I'd be endangering them by telling you.

[ Perhaps that's why one day a new girl in HR would give him a cute smile and then the next she'd turn away nervously. ]

[untodeath]

[ Oh, well. The redhead looks away nonchalantly! ]

Please, Will. That would all be in the past!

[ Though, she's immediately glances back. ]

--Is it true, then? No one?

[death_glare]

[ He had zero doubt that was the case. ]

No one.

[untodeath]

[ With a blink, her line of vision lowers while she attempts to imagine that. ]

But... why? How?

[death_glare]

I didn't feel it was wise for me to. Or deserved, more so.

[ It's stated so calmly. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell's hand stills. ]

Was this you taking the reaper oath much too seriously? Or are we talking about something entirely different?

[death_glare]

It's in regards to my mortal life.

[ Since she seems to have paused in her task, for the moment, William interrupts the potential awkwardness of the discussion by spooning some water up over his chest, washing away the bubbles. ]

[untodeath]

[ Squeezing out the cloth, she shifts to stand, moving to the other side of the basin tub. There, she can make eye contact.

Reaching into the water to lift one on his ankles, she props his foot against the ledge oh the tub, to wash down his leg. ]

Would you tell me what happened?

[death_glare]

[ It's a bit of an odd topic to talk about when he's in a bathtub with Grell washing him down. ]

Considering how important the job of a reaper is, I knew I wouldn't be able to give enough attention to whomever I was with.

[untodeath]

[ Odd or not, this is where their conversation led them to, and Grell won't turn away from the chance to learn more about him.

She washes all the way down William's thigh, motions diligent and caring. ]

So you were with someone that wished to have more of your attention, then?

[death_glare]

[ He nods, surprised a how appropriate she's keeping her touches while she washes him. ]

Yes. And she was wholly entitled to it.

[untodeath]

[ Humming with acknowledgement, she lowers his foot into the tub, so that she may take the other, in turn.

She could make assumptions, based on her experiences with William, but she'd rather hear it from him. ]

Why was that, darling?

[death_glare]

Being my wife, I should have been there for her instead of burying myself in my work.

[ He frowns, thinking over his choice of words. ]

I haven't learned much, it seems.

[untodeath]

[ His wife... At that, the reaper's hand falters for a moment, before she forces her hand onward. Such focus makes her miss the way she presses her lips, swallowing. ]

I wouldn't say that. You've always come through for me when it mattered most. [ She pauses, to dip the cloth and apply more soap. ] You're here now.

[death_glare]

[ A nod as he remakes eye contact with her. ]

I spoke with her while I was still in Heaven. She was the one who made me realize I'd been treating you the same way. So when management asked to see me regarding your behaviour, I'd already made my mind up to return.

Granted, they were unaware of that, so it allowed me to negotiate your punishment moreso.

[untodeath]

[ Grell glances up to him, brows raising a bit. ]

You-- spoke with her? [ Sitting back on her haunches, she just looks utterly stunned. ] And-- you still decided to return?

[death_glare]

We both decided it would be best to put that part of our relationship behind us. It's saddening, yes, but part of being forgiven was coming to terms with everything that had happened. She just wanted to see me happy again, and from watching over me these years, saw that you were someone who could "balance me out", I believe is how she phrased it.

[ He dips the one leg back under the water and lifts the other. ]

And you certainly are my polar opposite.

[untodeath]

[ Grell's shoulders rise and fall with a sigh, the slightest flutter to her breath. A smile twinges at her lips, as her hands encase William's ankle, and begin to swathe the skin. ]

I can't say that I've ever had someone's blessing before.

[ It's a lot to take in, but there's nothing to particularly be upset about. William's moved on, in every sense of the word. In fact, Everything she's been told only bodes well for their relationship. ]

[death_glare]

I wouldn't think that'd be something you'd need, being the rebellious type that you are.

[ She's taken this news of him formerly having a wife much better than he'd expected her to. ]